RFK JR’s plan to send health officials to Aboriginal leaders in the Indian country Angers

The secretary of health, Robert F. Kennedy Jr., made a program on Facebook of his meeting with the indigenous leaders of the American Indians and Alaska last month, declaring himself “very inspired” and has committed to improving the Indian health service, which, according to him, has “always been treated like the redhead” by his agency.

Now Aboriginal leaders have questions for him.

Why, they would like to know, did he dismissed employees in programs aimed at supporting the natives, such as the initiative of the Healthy Tribes of Centers for Disease and Prevention? Why has he closed five regional offices from the Ministry of Health and Social Services which, by the estimate of a tribes defender, cover 80% of the country’s Indian population?

Why did five senior advisers for tribal problems in the department of the department for children and families, all Indians or Aboriginal, let go? Why are all these changes made without consulting tribe chiefs, despite the severe treated obligations, as well as presidential decrees, demand it?

But the final unworthiness, say that the indigenous leaders came last week, when Mr. Kennedy reassured high -ranking health officials – including a married bioethician in Dr Anthony S. Fauci, a tobacco regulator, a human resources manager and others – in the locations of the Indian health services in the American West, when what the Aboriginal service really needs.

“They aim for their obligation of confidence in the Indian tribes by all the scams they make,” said Deb Haaland, the former interior and deputy secretary, who is a member of the Laguna Pueblo tribe and Democratic candidate for the post of governor of the New Mexico. “It’s terrible, it’s shameful and it’s not good.”

This week, Mr. Kennedy will visit native health providers and will meet tribes chiefs in Arizona and New Mexico to highlight his commitment to Indian health. The secretary, who was also invited to appear before the senatorial health committee to testify on job cuts and the vast reorganization of his department, has often talked about the long -standing commitment of his family towards the Amerindians. The coalition of large tribes, a plea group, gave its appointment its greatest approval.